Chapter 4
Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Knowledge and the Renunciation of Action
- Verse 4.1This everlasting (system of) devotion I declared to the sun, the sun declared it to Manu, and Manu communicated it to…
- Verse 4.2Coming thus by steps, it became known to royal sages. But, O terror of (your) foes! that devotion was lost to the…
- Verse 4.3That same primeval devotion I have declared to you to-day, seeing that you are my devotee and friend, for it is the…
- Verse 4.4Later is your birth the birth of the sun is prior. How then shall I understand that you declared (this) first? The…
- Verse 4.5I have passed through many births, O Arguna! and you also. I know them all, but you, O terror of (your) foes! do not…
- Verse 4.6Even though I am unborn and inexhaustible in (my) essence, even though I am lord of all beings, still I take up the…
- Verse 4.7Whensoever, O descendant of Bharata! piety languishes, and impiety is in the ascendant, I create myself.
- Verse 4.8I am born age after age, for the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, and the establishment of…
- Verse 4.9Whoever truly knows thus my divine birth and work, casts off (this) body and is not born again. He comes to me, O…
- Verse 4.10Many from whom affection, fear, and wrath have departed, who are full of me, who depend on me, and who are purified by…
- Verse 4.11I serve men in the way in which they approach me. In every way, O son of Prithâ! men follow in my path.
- Verse 4.12Desiring the success of actions, men in this world worship the divinities, for in this world of mortals, the success…
- Verse 4.13The fourfold division of castes was created by me according to the apportionment of qualities and duties. But though I…
- Verse 4.14Actions defile me not. I have no attachment to the fruit of actions. He who knows me thus is not tied down by actions.
- Verse 4.15Knowing this, the men of old who wished for final emancipation, performed action. Therefore do you, too, perform…
- Verse 4.16Even sages are confused as to what is action, what inaction. Therefore I will speak to you about action, and learning…
- Verse 4.17One must possess knowledge about action; one must also possess knowledge about prohibited action; and again one must…
- Verse 4.18He is wise among men, he is possessed of devotion, and performs all actions, who sees inaction in action, and action…
- Verse 4.19The wise call him learned, whose acts are all free from desires and fancies, and whose actions are burnt down by the…
- Verse 4.20Forsaking all attachment to the fruit of action, always contented, dependent on none, he does nothing at all, though…
- Verse 4.21Devoid of expectations, restraining the mind and the self, and casting off all belongings, he incurs no sin,…
- Verse 4.22Satisfied with earnings coming spontaneously, rising above the pairs of opposites, free from all animosity, and…
- Verse 4.23The acts of one who is devoid of attachment, who is free, whose mind is fixed on knowledge, and who performs action…
- Verse 4.24Brahman is the oblation; with Brahman (as a sacrificial instrument) it is offered up; Brahman is in the fire; and by…
- Verse 4.25Some devotees perform the sacrifice to the gods, some offer up the sacrifice by the sacrifice itself in the fire of…
- Verse 4.26Others offer up the senses, such as the sense of hearing and others, in the fires of restraint; others offer up the…
- Verse 4.27Some again offer up all the operations of the senses and the operations of the life-breaths into the fire of devotion…
- Verse 4.28Others perform the sacrifice of wealth, the sacrifice of penance, the sacrifice of concentration of mind, the…
- Verse 4.29Some offer up the upward life-breath into the downward life-breath, and the downward life-breath into the upper…
- Verse 4.30Others, who (take) limited food, offer up the life-breaths into the life-breaths. All of these, conversant with the…
- Verse 4.31Those who eat the nectar-like leavings of the sacrifice repair to the eternal Brahman. This world is not for those who…
- Verse 4.32Thus sacrifices of various sorts are laid down in the Vedas. Know them all to be produced from action, and knowing…
- Verse 4.33The sacrifice of knowledge, O terror of (your) foes! is superior to the sacrifice of wealth, for action, O son of…
- Verse 4.34That you should learn by salutation, question, and service. The men of knowledge who perceive the truth will teach…
- Verse 4.35Having learnt that, O son of Pându! you will not again fall thus into delusion; and by means of it, you will see all…
- Verse 4.36Even if you are the most sinful of all sinful men, you will cross over all trespasses by means of the boat of…
- Verse 4.37As a fire well kindled, O Arguna! reduces fuel to ashes, so the fire of knowledge reduces all actions to ashes.
- Verse 4.38For there is in this world no means of sanctification like knowledge, and that one perfected by devotion finds within…
- Verse 4.39He who has faith, whose senses are restrained, and who is assiduous, obtains knowledge. Obtaining knowledge, he…
- Verse 4.40He who is ignorant and devoid of faith, and whose self is full of misgivings, is ruined. Not this world, not the next,…
- Verse 4.41Actions, O Dhanañgaya! do not fetter one who is self-possessed, who has renounced action by devotion, and who has…
- Verse 4.42Therefore, O descendant of Bharata! destroy, with the sword of knowledge, these misgivings of yours which fill your…